| The Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group go | | | | The new incentives rolled out by Ford will |
| back to that old standby of auto retailing - | | | | run through April 2. |
| giving incentives. This is the automakers' | | | | |
| way of getting away from the enduring | | | | In order to face the auto battle squarely, |
| nosedives and pulling sales up. | | | | Chrysler also started offering some new |
| | | | incentives of its own. It will also be |
| Ford earlier announced a new package of | | | | offering free upgrade to a HEMI engine as |
| incentives to match a more aggressive | | | | part of its March "Truck Month" promotion. In |
| advertising campaign. Chrysler, on the other | | | | the said promotion, purchasers of a Dodge |
| hand, is now offering a free upgrade to a | | | | Ram, Durango or Dakota for this month will |
| HEMI engine. The deal is part of the | | | | get one of the well-liked powerplants at no |
| automaker's March "Truck Month" promotion | | | | extra charge. Aside from this, they will |
| which also features cash incentives. | | | | receive up to $5,000 in consumer cash on the |
| | | | Ram and $2,000 on the Durango. Purchasers of |
| As previously reported, the new ad campaign | | | | the Dodge Dakota will also receive $2,000 in |
| of Ford, which is dubbed as the "Ford | | | | cash. Chrysler is also offering $1,000 in |
| Challenge", builds on the success of its | | | | bonus cash on the Jeep Cherokee, Commander |
| "Fusion Challenge" ads, which have started | | | | Limited and the Liberty. |
| airing in January. To add a dash of spice to | | | | |
| the deal, Ford is offering prospective Ford | | | | "Chrysler is relying on deals like this to |
| Fusion customers a unique 39-month "Sign and | | | | ease its inventory problems. They'll deny it |
| Drive" Red Carpet lease on the Fusion SE I-4 | | | | until the end, but they've been putting on |
| with payments of $249 a month. The deal | | | | the incentives pretty heavily," said analyst |
| waives the first month's payment and does not | | | | Rebecca Lindland of Global Insight. |
| require money down. Ford Fusion purchasers | | | | |
| could also opt for a 2.9 percent financing | | | | General Motors Corp. did not announce any new |
| for 60 months or $1,000 in customer cash. For | | | | promotions for this month however it has |
| the Ford Expedition, the automaker's new | | | | increased sales incentives last month. Paul |
| incentives include 3.9 percent financing for | | | | Ballew, GM's chief sales analyst, declined to |
| 60 months or $2,000 in customer cash. | | | | specify the magnitude of the increase. Ballew |
| | | | said, "We're going to stay competitive in |
| Ford is also launching news ads to promote | | | | March and we'll see how the industry plays |
| the Ford F-series, its bread and butter | | | | out." |
| vehicle. The Ford F-series ads feature Mike | | | | |
| Rowe of the Discovery Channels popular "Dirty | | | | Detroit-based automakers are improving their |
| Jobs" which is a documentary series. To | | | | vehicle lineup by upgrading auto parts auto |
| promote the pickup truck series, Toby Keith, | | | | and accessories like axle assembly, DC sports |
| a country music superstar, will join Rowe. | | | | cold air intake, wheels, brakes as well as |
| | | | other car system. Even if they have |
| To further boost the sales of Ford F-150 | | | | previously announced to cut back on incentive |
| pickup, the most popular variant of the | | | | spending, analysts say they are here to stay |
| F-series, Ford is offering its customers | | | | for the foreseeable future. "The domestics |
| $3,000 in cash or 0 percent financing for 60 | | | | can't eliminate them all together," Alex |
| months on all 2007 models except for the | | | | Rosten of said. |
| limited edition Harley-Davidson SuperCrew. | | | | |